In 1863 the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Voluntary Infantry was formed under the leadership of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw. This regiment was the first to be composed mainly of Northern free blacks. They served in several areas, notably the assault on Fort Wagner in South Carolina. This book contains the letters of James Henry Gooding who sent his missives to the New Bedford Mercury for publication. They provide a unique glimpse into the activities of this famous regiment. Gooding was well-educated and a former whaler who wrote what ultimately became a moving and irresistible account of the war from his unique perspective. I would recommend this small column to anyone interested in the day to day activities of the troops in the Civil War. ( )

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